Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
3-9pm
Feel the Rhythm of the Drums 4, Curated by Orlando Primo (Majek Fingers Drumming School).
New Orleans Airlift is excited to host the fourth annual Feel the Rhythm of the Drums Festival at Music Box Village in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans on October 3rd, 2026. This year’s event capitalizes on the joy and dynamic energy of last year’s gathering and brings to it new voices from within our city.
Orlando Primo, festival curator and founder of Majek Fingers International School of Drumming is the creative force behind this unique event that shares folkloric drum and dance styles from across the African diaspora, and invites audience members to learn and engage with what they are hearing. The combination of interactivity and performance educates and inspires as it encourages artists and attendees alike to participate in cross-cultural exchange.
Orlando Primo, founder and director of Majek Fingers Drumming School, is a master percussionist whose artistic brilliance is deeply intertwined with his passion for education and community empowerment. As the visionary behind the Feel the Rhythm of the Drums Festival, Primo continues to connect cultures and generations through rhythm, movement, and storytelling.
This year’s festival shines a spotlight on folkloric traditions that, while not always widely known among New Orleanians, are deeply embedded in the Afro-Caribbean rhythms that fuel the city's vibrant musical identity. Audiences will be treated to the powerful sounds of Bomba from Puerto Rico, performed by the dynamic Bombazo Dance Company led by Milteri Tucker, and the rich, soulful rhythms of Brazil, brought to life by the electrifying group Tamojunto.
In keeping with its growing international vision, the festival proudly welcomes the return of cherished collaborators. Bill Summers will open the event with a spirited drumming workshop and dance from Cuba, setting the tone for a day of cultural celebration. Beloved local performers the Silhouette Dance Ensemble led by Mama Kai Knight—will bring the rhythms of Haiti to the stage, honoring the enduring legacy of African diasporic traditions. Group Uramana performs both drum and dance from Honduras.
We’re also thrilled to welcome youth-focused groups like the inspiring Colu Drum and Dance Company and the energetic Watotos of Kumbuka and Dance Ensemble, adding youthful vibrancy and global perspective to the festival experience.
Together, these extraordinary artists and ensembles will create a powerful, joyful celebration of rhythm and resilience—unifying communities through the universal heartbeat of the drum.